UH students exhibit art in New York

Little more than a year ago, University of Hawaii-Manoa art professor Debra Drexler was invited to bring an exhibit to the heart of New York.

The exhibit, "Gauguin's Zombie" -- which also had shown at the Honolulu Academy of Arts -- was such a success that curator Koan Jeff Baysa asked Drexler for her help promoting the works of other Hawaii-based artists in Manhattan.

Faced with the dilemma of whether to use the opportunity to showcase newer artists versus more established artists, the UH teacher instead decided to offer graduate students in her department a rare opportunity to showcase their individual talents and supplement their portfolios.

Flash forward to summer 2006: Students Calvin Collins, Karen Goins, Puni Kukahiko, Julie Wooddell Laymon, Mark Maresca, Isaac Parker, Ben Pfister, Dieter Runge, Kiley Smith and Will Williams III showed their work in a 10-day exhibit, "Wanderings," at the Roger Smith Lab Gallery, a storefront space in New York's Roger Smith Hotel. Better yet, all but one student made the opening reception in the Big Apple. Funding from UH paid for a substantial part of the students' airline tickets.

Drexler, a UH painting teacher of 14 years, submitted a proposal for the project in September, unbeknownst to her students.

The "Wanderings" proposal was simple: Choose some sort of map and use it to convey a personal perspective -- a story, viewpoint or theme. Students responded to the challenge in a variety of ways, and what emerged were 10 different takes on subjects as vast yet overlapping as colonialism, globalization, heritage, racism and nationalism.

"Wanderings" debuted on the UH campus as a "test run," said Drexler. Taking it to New York "was a way to support art that might not be shown."

Matthew Semler, artistic director for the Lab Gallery, was receptive to the idea from the get-go; the trip was also a chance for the graduate students to establish connections and hobnob with gallery owners and curators, as well as meet other artists and art critics. One UH student sold a piece; another received requests to participate in future shows.

In many cases, families and friends joined up with the small traveling party, Drexler said, although students were at first more nervous than celebratory at the idea of exhibiting in New York, especially in the gallery off-season.

"There was a very mixed reaction from the students," said Drexler. "They felt the pressure in being in such a venue. But once they got here, it was incredibly exhilarating."

As was taking in art openings in Lower Manhattan's Chelsea area.

"What's coming up next is individual opportunities," Drexler said. "The reception in New York was so strong and positive. They've met some incredible people, and they realized they would be taken seriously. It's not impossible to break into the New York art scene."